//------------------------------// // The Straw Hat // Story: My New Life // by Ark125 //------------------------------// My New Life Chapter 7 – The Straw Hat Pure Heart's POV "Come on kids! Time for an adventure!" I said as I placed my children in their safety seats and buckled them in. Luna came out to the launch pad. "Pure Heart, are you sure you can handle the kids and pay attention to the sky at the same time?" I smirked, "Of course! I am the best when it comes to multitasking." I was taking the kids down to Ponyville today so they could visit their Aunties (the mane six) while caught up with Eclipse. "Well, okay. Just be careful, okay?" She had obvious worry in her voice. "I Pinkie Pie Promise." I did the motions. "We will be back in time for dinner." I gave her a peck on the lips. She then trotted up to the kids, "You be good for daddy, alright?" She kissed each one on the forehead, causing them to giggle. She smiled and stepped back. "Alright, next stop: Ponyville!" I yelled and the chariot shot forward from the thrust of the pegasus guards taking off. "Be safe!" Luna yelled as we flew away. One Hour Later We touched down in front of the library. I chuckled when I heard Pinkie Pie scream, "Their here!" I started to unbuckle my kids and levitated each one onto my back. Once they were all giggling between my outstretched wings, I stepped off the chariot. "Thanks guys. Take some time off and enjoy your day in Ponyville, but be back around 6 PM." I said to the guards, to which they humbly bowed and trotted away. I turned and walked towards the door of the library. I was about to knock when the door flung open. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Pinkie Pie screamed. "Um... it's not my birthday Pinkie." I said matter of factually. "It's not? Darn it! Oh well, more cake for me!" She said in a sing song voice as she bounced away. I walked in chuckling. "Prince Pure Heart. So good to see you," Rarity said as she bowed. I smiled, "Good to see you, too." I heard laughing coming from my back. "And I think Moonbeam is happy to see you as well." I picked up my eldest and gently placed her on the floor. "Oh! She is just so cute!" Rarity exclaimed as she picked her up and started to tickled her tummy. "Fluttershy, I would like you to help Rarity watch Moonbeam today. She is the most calm, so she will be easy to handle." "Thank you." Fluttershy whispered as she walked over to Rarity and Moonbeam. "Rainbow Dash, I think Starfire wants to meet you." "No, really?" She said sarcastically after being knocked over by a speeding Starfire. "Sorry, she is still trying to get the hang of flying." "Now don't ya worry partner. I'll make sure those two don't get into too much trouble." AJ said, walking over to them. "Thanks." I turned towards Twilight and Pinkie Pie. "And last, but certainly not least, Pinkie Pie and Twilight." "Yes?" They both said in unison. "I would like you two to keep track of Nightshade for me." I pointed my hoof to my back after folding my wings. "Er, Pure Heart?" "Yes, Twilight?" "Where is he?" I sighed, "Not again." "What do you mean?" "Yeah, um, you see... Nightshade likes to play Hide-and-Seek." "Oh! I love that game!" Pinkie jumped for joy. "Yeah, but he has a tendency to always win. He likes to blend in with his environment." "He's a ninja!" Pinkie Pie squealed. "In a manner of speaking, yes. That is why I chose you two to watch him. With Pinkie Pie's Pinkie Sense and Twilight's knowledge of magic, I know you can keep track of him." "Twitcha-shake." Pinkie said as she was dragged to an unseen force towards a bookshelf. "Gotcha!" Sure enough, Nightshade reappeared and began to laugh. "See, I knew I made the right choice." I turned to Twilight, "Now, where is Eclipse?" "He went to the market about 10 minutes ago." She said. "Okay. I gotta talk with him. Will you girls be fine without me? Alicorn foals are much different than regular ponies." "Don't worry darling. You go do your errands. We have everything under control." Rarity said as she was brushing Moonbeam's mane. "Well okay, bye then. You kids be good for your aunties." I said as I walked out the door. "Bye." They all said in unison. I closed the door and walked away. 10 Minutes Later I was walking through the market enjoying the sounds and smells. I passed Rarity's boutique and saw a pegasus looking through the window. "Hello? Anypony home?" He said. "Hi!" I said, walking up behind him. "Holy Cheese!" He shot up into the air. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." "Huh?" He came down and landed lightly on his hooves. "Oh, it's no big deal." I stretched out my hoof, "Let me start over. Hi, I am Prince Pure Heart. May I ask who you are?" He stared blankly at me and then at my hoof, then back at me. He then took my hoof and said, "Pleasure. My name is Paul." "Paul?" "Oops. I meant to say QuickSilver." "M'kay. So can I help you with something, QuickSilver?" "Why yes, actaully. This is Carousel Boutique, correct?" He pointed backwards. "Yes. Yes it is." "Oh good. Then do you know where Rarity is?" "Do you know her?" I asked. "Not really, at least no in person." "Person?" "Sorry, I meant 'pony'. I don't know her in pony." "I see. Let me ask you a question." "Go ahead." "Do you know what a human is?" His expression changed to one of surprise. "Um... uh... yes. No." He began to sweat profusely. "Hey man, chill out. I'm just messing with you. Though this does confirm my suspicions." He audibly gulped. "W-what?" "You are, indeed, a human being." "What? Me? Pfft. As if!" He began to fake a laugh. "Dude, it's okay. I'm a human as well." "Oh my gosh! Don't scare me like that." "Sorry." "It's fine. So, um, do you know where I can find Rarity?" "Yes. Why? Do you have a crush on her?" "No." I knew he was completely serious when he went all serious faced. "I would like to ask her if she can make me a straw hat. Nothing more." "'Kay. Well before I even tell you where she is, let me say this. You know she would most likely not make you a straw hat. It isn't very regal for her taste." "Fine. Where do you suppose I find one then." "Maybe the hat store across the street." I pointed towards a shop with a big fedora on top. "Huh? Oh, I see. Well not really." "What do you mean?" "Well I kind of crushed my glasses a few days back when I landed here. It was by mere chance that I stumbled upon Rarity's store." "Oh, I can fix those for you." "Really? Are you an optometrist?" "No, but my grandfather was and I can do wonders with my magic." "Cool." He reached into his flesh pocket and pulled out the remnants of his correctional lenses. "Hold on, this should only take a second." My horn flashed and his glasses were good as new. He put them on and adjusted them. "Wow, I can see better than I could before. Is there anything I can do to repay you?" "Na. It's on the house. Now, let's see about getting you that hat." I began to walk over to the hat store, and QuickSilver followed close behind me. As I walked in, a chime sounded. "Welcome to Big Ed's Hat Hut! How may I help you gentlecolts?" Said a large stallion that appeared as soon as the chime had ended. After my initial shock, I calmly said, "Hi. I am wondering if you have any straw hats in stock." "Well, well. You are in luck! We have one left in stock." He disappeared for a second and then came back with a whitish-tan straw hat that had a single black band going around the base of the hump. "Here you are!" I turned to QuickSilver. "What do you think of it?" His eyes widened and said, "It's perfect!" I chuckled, "Alright, we'll take it." I gave the stallion the amount of bits for the hat and he gave it to me which I then gave to QuickSilver who immediately placed it on his head. "Thanks, come again." The stallion said as we walked out. When we stepped back out into the sunlight, I took the time to actually get a good look at QuickSilver. He was a pegasus, duh, and he had a grayish-silver coat with a black mane and tail. His new straw hat kind of reminded me of the hat Luffy wears in One Piece. "So, what is your talent?" "Oh... um... I guess research." "Really?" "Yeah. I really especially like to research science and medicine." "Well, if you want, I am sure we could use somepony with your expertise in Canterlot." "That is very generous of you, but I think I would like to travel for a while." "Oh, well okay then. But my offer will stand." "Thanks. Now then, can you show me to the library? I would very much like to get some reading done before I head out." "Yes, but first I need to find somepony." "Who?" "An alicorn named Eclipse." "Okay. I will assist you."